Aircraft Yoke Lockout Device for Servicing Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft control devices, such as yokes, can accidentally move during servicing, testing, or maintenance, leading to undesired movement of aircraft control surfaces, and regulatory requirements necessitate locking these devices during such activities.
Innovation Solution
A lockout device is designed to clamp the yoke and couple to the aircraft cockpit, constraining movement by featuring openings, slots, and locking mechanisms to securely hold the yoke and cockpit components at a fixed distance, preventing unintended movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the yoke is left unlocked during servicing or testing, then the aircraft control device is easy to operate and adjust, but the control surfaces may move accidentally causing safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The lockout device is divided into separate components: a body portion, a first clamp portion with first opening and first slot, and a second clamp portion with second opening and second slot. This segmentation allows the device to be installed without requiring complete disassembly of the yoke, thus maintaining safety while preserving operational accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The lockout device acts as an intermediary mechanism between the yoke and the cockpit structure. It provides a controlled locking function that prevents accidental movement while allowing intentional operation when needed, resolving the contradiction between safety and operability.
2Reliability
If a lockout device is installed to prevent accidental yoke movement, then safety is improved, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional elements (clamp portions, openings, slots, and locking mechanisms) are merged into a single integrated lockout device body. This consolidation provides comprehensive safety functionality while avoiding the need for multiple separate components, thus improving safety without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The lockout device body serves multiple functions simultaneously: it houses the clamp portions for securing the yoke, provides structural support, and incorporates the locking mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, addressing the complexity concern while maintaining safety.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the lockout device securely constrains the yoke, then control surface stability is improved, but the yoke movement flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The lockout device applies preliminary constraint forces through the clamp portions and locking mechanism to prevent unwanted yoke movement. This preliminary anti-action stabilizes the control surfaces during critical operations while allowing controlled movement when the locking mechanism is intentionally engaged or disengaged.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism provides dynamic control over yoke constraint. It can transition between locked and unlocked states, allowing the system to adapt between stable (locked) and flexible (unlocked) conditions based on operational requirements, thus resolving the contradiction between stability and flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for a lockout device. The lockout device may prevent movement of aircraft control devices. The lockout device may include one or more portions and may include features that are designed to couple to or clasp a yoke of an aircraft as well as interface or couple to a pedal housing of the aircraft. Features of the lockout device may prevent movement of the aircraft control devices. The lockout device may include features to lock the device and may be multiple separate pieces or may be a hinged device.